Labor & Employment

Los Angeles -- CBRE Group announced that Robert E. Sulentic assumed the position of president and CEO, effective Dec. 1.
   
Sulentic succeeds Brett White, who, as previously announced, retired on Nov. 30.

Sulentic, most recently the company’s president, also joined CBRE’s board of directors, which has expanded to 11 members. White also remains a member of the board.
 

Boston -- DJM Realty announced that Josh Podell has joined the company as a specialty retail and outlet consultant.

Podell, who will continue to operate his own real estate consultancy Podell Real Estate Advisors, counts among his retail experience a lengthy stint as VP real estate for Jones Retail Corp., a division of Jones Apparel Group.

Ridgefield, Conn. -- Schimenti Construction announced it has completed an expansion of its company headquarters in Ridgefield, Conn., doubling the size of the space from 10,000 sq. ft. to 20,000 sq. ft.

The expansion also includes a redesign of the main floor with the creation of a new reception area. A new executive conference room has been added on the first floor, as well as new waiting areas on both floors. A training space has been incorporated into the new design and a new employee café features a Starbucks coffee bar.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Pitney Bowes has appointed Marc B. Lautenbach as its new president and CEO, effective immediately. Lautenbach succeeds Murray D. Martin, who is retiring as the company’s chairman, president and CEO and has resigned from the company’s board of directors.

Martin will continue to work with Lautenbach, who has nearly 30 years of experience in the technology and business services industry in senior leadership positions at IBM, on an effective transition.

Columbus, Ohio -- Big Lots Inc. reported Tuesday a loss of $6 million for the third quarter, compared with net income of $4.2 million in the year-ago period. Results, however, topped analysts’ earnings expectations.

Revenue slipped 0.4% to $1.13 billion, missing Wall Street’s forecast of $1.3 billion.

The retailer also announced that its CEO Steven Fishman will retire as chairman and CEO after 40 years in retail. Big Lots has launched a search for his successor; Fishman will stay until a new CEO is appointed.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Convenience Stores has named Paige Anderson as its director of government relations.

Anderson has extensive experience on Capitol Hill, and has particular expertise in energy policy and cyber-security. She most recently served as deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, the outgoing U.S. Representative for California's 45th congressional district.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Employees at the Grand Rapids-based retailer Meijer raised $3 million for the 2012 United Way Workforce Campaign for the second year in a row. The workforce campaign aims to improve the lives of those in need by meeting critical needs of the community.

ST. LOUIS — Grey Eagle Distributors, the Anheuser-Busch wholesaler for St. Louis County, has acquired the Illinois Distributing Company, an Anheuser-Busch wholesaler based in Belleville, Ill.  

The acquisition includes Illinois Distributing's assets and sales territory, which includes most of St. Clair County, Monroe County, Collinsville and Granite City. Grey Eagle will begin selling beer to retailers in the new territory today. Illinois Distributing sold approximately 2.6 million cases of beer annually.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission name Stephanie Tsacoumis as its new general counsel effective December 10.

Tsacoumis joins CPSC after serving as vp and general counsel at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., from 2009 through 2012, where she was responsible for all legal affairs and compliance matters at the university, including health and safety regulations, litigation, federal contracts and grants, and intellectual property.

Washington -- The National Retail Federation on Monday issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay regarding the strike that has shut down most terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. NRF last week sent President Obama a letter asking that he intervene in the strike.